The Daily Bulletin Archive

Jane Cushman, associate professor of mathematics, was a faciliator at the July 2019 Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) workshop held in Los Angeles, California. PRODUCT IBL workshops are practical, hands-on, interactive workshops for college math instructors interested in teaching via IBL or hybrid IBL. The focus of the workshops is on developing the skills and practices necessary for successful implementation of IBL.

Participants learned new skills from experienced IBL instructors, reflected on current teaching practices, and prepared to teach their own IBL math course during the next academic year. The IBL workshop is a residential workshop.

IBL is a form of active learning in which students are given a carefully scaffolded sequence of mathematical tasks and are asked to solve and make sense of them, working individually or in groups. Many varieties of IBL exist under one “big tent.” While courses may look different, they all rely on the core principles of (1) deep engagement in rich mathematical activities and (2) opportunities to collaborate with peers. Following these core principles, IBL courses enhance student learning by providing opportunities to learn the process of understanding and presenting math rather than simply watching someone else do it.